Top 10 Most Popular Arches In The World
5. Arch of Cinquantenaire, Belgium
This enormous arch was originally planned to commemorate 50 years of Belgian independence, in the year 1880. But the construction of the arch didn’t completed in time. It took another 25 years for the completion of this arch and opened in 1905. It was originally designed by a temporary wooden structure. Then the disagreement between King Leopold and Government in subject of arising fund for permanent stone arch. It made a long delay in construction of the arch. There is a quadriga sculpture at top of arch that represent ‘Brabant raising the national flag’.
Parc du Cinquantenaire or Jubelpark is a large public, urban park in the easternmost part of the European Quarter in Brussels, Belgium.
Most buildings of the U-shaped complex which dominate the park were commissioned by the Belgian government under the patronage of King Leopold II for the 1880 National Exhibition commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Belgian independence. During successive exhibitions in the same area, more structures were added. The centrepiece triumphal arch was erected in 1905 replacing a previous temporary version of the arcade by Gédéon Bordiau. The structures were built in iron, glass and stone, symbolising the economic and industrial performance of Belgium. The surrounding 30-hectare park esplanade was full of picturesque gardens, ponds and waterfalls. It housed several trade fairs, exhibitions and festivals at the beginning of the century. In 1930 the government decided to reserve Cinquantenaire for use as a leisure park.
The Royal Military Museum has been the sole tenant of the northern half of the complex since 1880. The southern half is occupied by the Jubelpark museum and the AutoWorld Museum. The Temple of Human Passions, a remainder from 1886, and the Great Mosque of Brussels from 1978 are located in the north-western corner of the park.